2013 Maserati GranTurismo MC Convertible

Maserati drops the needle (and the top) on its latest MC.

Inspired by the success of the $200,000-plus GranTurismo MC Stradale (itself inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC spec race car), Maserati designed this droptop GranTurismo MC to satiate Maser fans looking for higher levels of performance and more aggressive styling in an open-top car. Motivation for the essentially hand-assembled car will come from Maserati’s Ferrari-assembled 454-hp, 4.7-liter V-8 mated to a six-speed auto. Featuring pistons made of hardened aluminum and a high-strength steel crankshaft, the unit is good for 384 lb-ft of torque at 4750 rpm. Mated to the ZF-supplied MC Auto Shift transmission, the combo is said to propel the GranTurismo MC (with the softtop closed) to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds and on to a claimed terminal velocity of 180 mph.

The car measures about two inches longer than non-MC convertibles, due largely to a modified front end, and it features a larger rear spoiler aimed at optimizing airflow and maximizing downforce. The MC droptop is said to have a reduction in lift of 10 percent at the front and 25 percent at the rear (measured at 87 mph) in comparison to the GranTurismo and GranTurismo Sport.

Two large ducts on the hood help keep the engine cool, and a narrow slit on each front fender looks cool while helping to evacuate hot air produced by the brakes. More ducting is found in the rear bumper, which was redesigned to smooth airflow from the underbody. The circular exhaust tips have been pinched closer together, too. LEDs handle running-light duties, and active bixenon headlamps do the heavy illuminative lifting.

The front and rear seats have been redesigned. A new frame for the front seats carves out 0.8 inch of additional rear legroom. That’s not much, but the list of V-8–powered Italian convertibles with rear seating is a short one, so we’ll take what we can get. Otherwise, the most significant interior tweak is a new steering wheel that’s been flattened on the top and bottom.

Twenty-inch wheels reside at all four corners, and they’re available in your choice of shiny or matte finish. The wheels have been lightened by an unspecified amount versus those on lesser models, and they provide shelter for one-piece Brembo cast aluminum calipers and aluminum-and-steel rotors (14.2 inches up front, 13.0 in the back). Single-rate shocks have been fitted.

As you might expect, a suite of as-yet-unspecified customization packages, including carbon-fiber components and unique colors, will be offered.

Maserati says the MC performance and styling mods won’t compromise the grand touring characteristics that make the GranTurismo such a capable and comfortable choice for long-distance travel. And good news for sun-loving Americans looking to add a dash of Italian style to their stables: Maserati says the MC convertible will be sold in the U.S.